MAKHACHKALA, January 15. /ITAR-TASS/. Three police officers have been killed and another five have been wounded in a clash with militants in Dagestan, a law enforcement officer told Itar-Tass noting that it was preliminary information.

"The fighting is taking place in the village of Karlanyurt, Khasavyurt district," the officer said. "There are special task force police among the fatalities."

Earlier, the information center of the National Antiterrorist Committee told Tass "an anti-terrorist operation to neutralize a group of gunmen is underway in Dagestan.